The last 18 months have seen huge changes for everyone, schools have been particularly hit by the need to stay at home and socially distance. Sadly, due to this certain rites of passage for students have been cancelled, end of year dances, exams and work experience have all been affected.
However, there have been some events that have been able to take place online and recently two of our trainee solicitors, Claire Critchlow and Hope Gill-Daintith, took part in an online careers event for Abbeygate College.
Here is what Claire said after the Meet the Professional event:
“I was involved in a careers event with Abbeygate College. This was called “Meet the Professional” whereby individuals from different industries would discuss their chosen job role with the students, and how they ended up in that role. The students would then ask the professional questions following the presentation.
I am a Trainee Solicitor at Oliver & Co and I discussed my career path from school to employment, from studying A-Levels in College, to attending University and also my study of the Legal Practice Course to allow myself to commence my Training Contract. I engaged with the students by discussing my own experience of the work place and discussed my day to day role in the Family Department. I also provided details of alternative paths to a Training Contract that I did not take, such as legal apprenticeship and also Chartered Legal Executive routes to becoming a solicitor.
The students were engaging and asked questions that were relevant to the legal profession, as well as putting me on the spot in asking the difference between a solicitor and a lawyer! It was enjoyable to speak with the students and hopefully give them insight into my particular career path, especially those students who are wishing to pursue a legal career. It can be daunting for students to finish education and enter the world or work or further education and hopefully, it is inspiring to see someone who was once in their shoes, succeed in their chosen career.”
After such a difficult 18 months this virtual career meeting was a great way to link up student and employer. The event was a great success and Alex Mack at Mploy Solutions who arranged the event was impressed with Claire’s presentation; “I thought your delivery and presentation was exceptional and the students learned a great deal about careers in law. Real insights into careers and organisations are difficult for schools to provide for their students and so your contributions today could prove invaluable for their progression into working life.”
At Oliver and Co we believe it is our responsibility to nurture the next generation of legal professionals and enjoy hosting students for work experience, we have missed this in the last year and we look forward to welcoming students back into the office as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you would like to be considered for work experience with Oliver and Co, please send your request to law@oliverandco.co.uk.
